Metrics

Selection of top 10k FPL managers wasted initial Wildcard

A small portion of the current top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League managers took a leaf out of David Wardale’s book and ‘Wasted their Wildcard’ in the first 20 Gameweeks of the season.

Just under 97.08% of those in the top echelon of the game used the chip which was available to them between Gameweek 1 and late December, meaning that just under 3% did not.

These were not even inactive players either. I looked at their teams and confirmed that most of them are actually active managers who change their teams every week.

It could be the case that they did not know the chip expires before the turning of the year, which seems more likely than them knowing the expiry date and not using the chip even to take a couple of hits for free.

The percentage of managers in an overall random sample of 50,000 teams that didn’t use the first Wildcard chip is around 49%.

Taking a closer look at those teams, we find that they are mostly inactive, hence the informal name of ‘dead teams’. So, we know there is a minimum of around 45% inactivity in the game at this point.

The actual percentage will be bigger since many dead teams may have used their Wildcard early in the season before they stopped playing the game.

A future article will look at that question in more detail to quantify the definition of a dead team and calculate how many of them exist.

The arrival of the second Wildcard encouraged 2.55% of the top 10,000 managers to use it right away this week. Their most selected players are shown below.

The resulting chip usage percentages in the top 10k are as follows

ChipTop 10k usageOverall usage
Wildcard2.55%3.64%
Bench Boost9.97%16.76%
Triple Captain11.77%26.21%
Free Hit12.93%19.84%

It is interesting to note how low those percentages are in the top 10k. In previous seasons, it was the case that many managers who enter the top 10k early are those who utilized their chips earlier and took the advantage over more experienced managers who delay their chips till the blank and double Gameweeks.

The percentages in the table above show that most of the managers who are currently enjoying outstanding overall ranks were not particularly helped by the usage of early chips. In fact, no chip has been used by more than 13% of the top 10,000 managers.

The figure above shows that around 75% of the top 10,000 managers have all of their chips intact. If they hold onto them for around 10 more Gameweeks when the blanks and doubles usually start, then we could see something different this year.

As three-quarters of active managers have all the freedom to deploy their chips in any order to cover the double and blank Gameweeks, it might be more challenging to rise up the ranks using late chips strategies like last season.

We will keep monitoring chip usage in the top 10k in the following weeks as we’re entering the second half of the season.

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2,716 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bojaninho
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Foster, Fabianski

    Trippier, Ballbuena, Shaw, Bennett, WB

    Salah, Hazard, Son, Fraser, Schniderlin

    Kane, Rashford, Rondon

    Foster+Trippier > Button + VVD/Robbo

    2FT 0 itb
    Next week Son>Pogba possibly
    Keep Rondon for Car at home then shift to Ings..

    Thoughts, Insults, abuse all welcome 😀

    1. Bend It like Trippier
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Seems a nice plan..

  2. Bend It like Trippier
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Morning to aaall!!
    So after the big game on Thursday..
    Would you pick Kun or Auba?
    No other City attacking player and we all know they'll be on form again soon..

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      i have both but if i had to pick one i'd choose to keep Auba, nailed on 90mins vs 70 and a rotation risk

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'd likely keep Auba. Currently without city players myself. Looking at Dilva if I'm to pick one.

  3. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    So i activated my wc last night to get increases on
    Brooks taa pogba but none rose

    Also removed alonso and ricky with a plan to buy back cheaper but none of them dropped.

    Why is this ?

    1. adam28193
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wildcards throw the price changes off abit

  4. adam28193
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    23 from 3 with Patricio balbuena/Robertson Doherty Anderson pogba sane jiminez and Haz cap to go - need a big couple of days!

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Think you're doing well so far.

  5. Konstaapeli
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed. Which one to sacrifice for Salah?

    A) Auba
    B) Kane

    Thanks.

    1. FPLAdmiral
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      PEA

    3. adam28193
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Kane all day long

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Can I ask why? Both are scoring well but Kane's got better fixtures. Also he's easier to switch to Auba if needed.

        1. adam28193
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Underlying stats are unbelievably better, aubas XGI was 35 mins yesterday -do you really want to get rid of someone posting these kind of numbers?

          1. Konstaapeli
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Well, on the other hand he had something like 8 touches against Liverpool. Half of them was from kickoff.

            1. adam28193
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              No service - despite that he's still posting double Kane's underlying stats. You can all ditch but he's going nowhere ha

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    5. Ynwalfc
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve used my wildcard and kept them all, you can still get a good team I think

      Etheridge
      TAA,Lovren,AWB
      Pogba,Hazard,Salah(C),F.Anderson,Camarasa(just a knock so should be ok)
      Kane,Aubameyang(VC)

      Subs Hamer,Kamara,Bennett,Daniels

      It could all go to pot but hopefully ok. Cardiff have good fixtures and Etheridge and Camarasa have scored well recently

  6. FPLAdmiral
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Along with Son, which other player would you rather lose to release funds for Salah?

    (A) Richarlison (play 3-4-3)
    (B) F. Anderson (3-4-3)
    (C) Jimenez (3-5-2)
    (D) Rashford (3-5-2)

    Fabianski, Button
    Robertson, TAA, Digne, Doherty, AWB
    Hazard, Pogba, *Son, *F.Anderson, *Richarlison
    Kane, *Rashford, *Jimenez

    1. adam28193
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I ditched Richarlison but probably not a good time to ditch - I'd do it for jimenez but depends how much value you have in him

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Tough one. A or B for me.

  7. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this team?
    Too templatey?

    Ryan Button
    Robbo TAA Doherty Bennett Bednarek
    Salah Hazard Pogba Martial Richarlison
    Kane Ings Kamara

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good. I don't think 'too templatey' is a problem. There's a good reason why they are 'in the template'.

  8. The Greenback Boogie
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Current team below. Have 2 FT's and 0.2 ITB.

    Patricio
    Luiz - VVD - Digne
    Son - Hazard - Salah - Anderson
    Mitro - Auba - Jimenez

    Hamer - AWB - Bennett - Hojberg

    What moves to make? Looking to get rid of Mitro, Anderson (fixtures aren't great), Son (could hold for 1 more week) and also want to switch Auba to Kane when fixtures take a swing.

  9. FPL AXE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I want Salah in, but which one of these 2 would you get rid of:

    Kane
    Aubameyang

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Asked this above. My initial plan was to lose Auba.

    2. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Same dilemma. Auba for me

    3. The Greenback Boogie
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba.

  10. Pigeon
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling + Anderson + Fabianski > Salah + Pereyra + Etheridge (-4) seem like sensible transfers?

  11. aarrgghh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    OMG!!!I finally have a plan.

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      OMG!!!! Let's hear it then!

      1. aarrgghh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Son to Sterling and Richarlison to Son when he's back

        1. Konstaapeli
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Green light from me!

  12. Painter
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Really wanna squeeze Kane into my team. Is this good or bad?

    Alonso son rashford out
    Lovren moura Kane

    Thanks

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Don't love Moura pick. Otherwise looks ok if it's for -4 and not -8.

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      auba cudve had a hatrick...why on earth did he not get a single bonus point with a goal n assist

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Moura horrible

  13. adam28193
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Everyone pushing the Kane panic button haha stick to your guns

  14. New article
  15. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    auba cudve had a hatrick...why on earth did he not get a single bonus point with a goal n assist

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Missed 4 'big chances'. That's -3 on the BPS for each one. He needed to put one of those away and he'd have had 3 BPs rather than 0.

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Would like to hear what's your take on Auba or Kane depate?

        1. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Both. Twist my arm for one only and it would be Aubameyang.

          1. Konstaapeli
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            I need to drop one to get Salah. Planned to bin Auba but somehow it feels wrong.

        2. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          go for salah aub and son...

  16. Srv210
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    When is son back from the Asia cup??
    I have good value tied in him ,if he is not out for long maybe I can hold

    Also is there anyone who is thinking of going without Salah??
    Auba,Kane,hazard all are performing quite well and getting Salah means to get rid of one of them which seems not very easy for me.

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      i think he will miss atleast first three games after their next vs man united and then it would depend upon how deep his team could go into the tournament

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        SSN said he will miss two Prem games and a cup game. I haven't checked to see if they are correct

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I had a look at the groups last night. Theyre going to be in the tourney for a while, very little competition there.

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        i am hoping for the same as i dont have him at the moment...and will be waiting for his value to go down and then bring him in

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Don't get too excited, everyone will own him when he gets back

  17. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is Son doing football in the Asian Olympics? My mate who is a bit of an idot says he is entered in the 4 x 4 relay and the 100m butterfly.

  18. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed last night again..i hated it a first but now i just accept it.

  19. Pieterke30
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Better to hold Kane than bring in Auba instead?

    1. Party time
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Auba is better because he is cheaper and also he is obviously fighting for the golden boot at the end of the season although I am considering selling because I do not want to ever see a premium forward I own get subbed off because of stpd tactical reasons.

      • zon
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Those fixtures and consistency, can't make myself sell Kane now.

    2. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What would be the next move here? 1 ft 0.1 itb.

      -Fab
      -TAA-Digne-Luiz
      -Salah-Fraser-Haz-Rich-Pogba
      -Kane-Ings
      ----Butt---Jimemez---Diop---Doherty.

      Thanks guys.

    3. TeamSteam
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba+Snod out for Salah+Kamara? Fairly template move idd, but im considering waiting. West Ham are poor at the back and Brighton are good at home. But being without Salah is risky.

    4. ScottK2
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Very interesting article. Thanks

    5. seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      59 all out.

      Hope the last match doesn't go bonkers for a tiny green arrow.